Sweden's telecoms regulator, the PTS says that the country has the best 3G coverage in Europe - stating that 85% of the Swedish population has 3G coverage. The UK and Italy have the second and third best coverage in Europe. They have approximately 75% and 60% 3G coverage of the population respectively. These figures come from a report on 3G development in both Europe and the rest of the world that PTS commissioned through Stelacon.

"It is pleasing to observe that we have good coverage in Sweden and that we are well placed compared to other countries in Europe. But the operators have promised even better coverage and there are still many Swedes who cannot access 3G," says PTS Director-General, Marianne Treschow.

In their applications, the 3G operators promised to cover 8,860,000 Swedes. PTS is now working further to urge the operators to roll out their networks to the extent that they have promised.